No comments about Plant Marriages: What Plants Look Good Together - How to Choose the Perfect Plant Combinations for Your Garden.

No comments about Walks and Talks of an American Farmer in England.

No comments about Landscapes of Taste: The Art of Humphry Repton's Red Books (Classical Tradition in Architecture).

2 comments about Bunkers, Pits & Other Hazards: A Guide to the Design, Maintenance, and Preservation of Golf's Essential Elements.

1. 
   "Who would guess that those gloomy bunkers were built to celebrate the pleasure of the senses?" (Lord Esher)
   Rarely will golfers agree on what is a good hazard and what is a bad one, except that it is a good one if ones opponent is in it, and it is a bad one if it is oneself. And that tends to be as erudite as it becomes when a hazard is being debated. Bunkers Pits & Other Hazards provides the historical background of hazards, the philosophies behind the great architects of the past, and of some of the current thinkers in the business of designing golf courses, when it comes to hazards. This is a book that gives one the "how" and "why" of bunkers, and as far as is possible with such a topic, the "when". It is book full of knowledge and to a large extent it is also a reference book for students of the game. For all of this it is still very readable.
   John Green



2. I have read and reread this book along with several selected passages and found it to be very well presented and invaluable for references purposes.
   
   This sincere effort by Mark Fine and Forrest Richardson is fluid and easy for the seasoned or casual golfer to follow or for any one else just wanting to gather some excellent reference material for a discussion. Not unlike Tom Doak's book, "The Anatomy of A Golf Course" I find this book complimentary and perfect to grab off the shelf and quickly locate excerpts which are very useful for discussions with clients and in reassuring my own thoughts and insights. Given the comprehensive research that went into compiling this book along with the countless sketches and photos, I believe it may become one of the more complete and valuable resources on bunkers and other related hazards for the game of golf. I particularly enjoyed the section that interviews golf architects and think this information will be quite insightful to the lay person, helping them to better understand these hazards, their origin, their intent, the architects who use them and hopefully allow them to appreciate the great golf courses of the world.
   
   S. Witter, Golf Architect

No comments about Landscape Architecture 01 - The World.

No comments about Englishwoman's Garden.

2 comments about Energy-Efficient and Environmental Landscaping: Cut Your Utility Bills by Up to 30 Percent and Create a Natural Healthy Yard.

1. This book includes several chapters which cover basic principles and then applies those principles in detail to four prototype climates. It is easily understood, but also includes sun angle calculations and shading diagrams for those who want to work out exact planting locations and plant forms. The last section of the book deals with drought tolerant and sustainable planting. It is readable, useful and well illustrated.



2. Ever notice how some spots in the woods are warmer or colder than others. This book shows you how you can modify one's own microclimate (to make your property more comfortable). It is organized by region, with appropriate strategies and recommended planting. It is also the most comprehensive guide to environmental landscaping (using native plants, composting, natural lawn care, xeriscaping [low water-use] etc.). I've recommended it to many of my friends and given copies as gifts.

5 comments about Duty, Honor, Country: A History of West Point.

1. An insightful look into the making of a "West Point" graduate, the back bone of our Army officer corp.



2. Ambrose complied a great deal of information into a concise, readable, text that will give the reader a deeper insight into the country's most important military institution.



3. In my opinion, this book reads like a school book report. It is a disappointment, considering the reputation of the source -- Stephen Ambrose. Maybe I expected too much because the author is well known. On the other hand, I didn't expect too much from the not well known author Norman Thomas Remick and his book "West Point", and was most pleasantly surprised. But there you are, then. It's not what you do, it's who you know that counts.



4. After its initial publication in the mid sixties, this book was difficult to find so I for one was delighted when it was rereleased several years ago. West Point is always an interesting subject and books on its history are always interesting to read. My only complaint was that the whole book should have been completely updated given the changes that occurred between the 1960s and 1990s. However, I do recommend this book as a good starting point for anyone interested in West Point and the US military.



5. Ambrose's 1964 history of the Military Academy is an easy flowing and enjoyable insight into many of the core traditions of West Point. Some of the early history seems dry at times, but provides a seldom seen picture of the politics of the early nineteenth century. As a grad, I learned much of WP's early history that I had never known of. It was delightful to see how much of the culture and tradition has remained relatively unchanged over 150 years. On the other hand, it was interesting to see the stark contrast that exists in many areas of cadet and army life from then to now.

   Ambrose has organized his work in a manner that defines the developmental stages of the Academy, beginning with the concept of military academies as first initiated in Europe. He does an excellent job of telling of the internal, and uniquely American, concerns about putting too much power into the hands of an elite military authority versus being adequately prepared for the defense of the new nation. Ambrose describes the rather weak beginnings of the Academy, and takes the reader through the its generational evolution. Along the way he cites many examples of how West Point pioneered many of the educational changes in the early American collegiate environment, as well as describing the contributions made by many of the Academy grads. He intertwines his historical narrative with a look at the cultures and traditions of West Point and how they contribute to the education of the officer corps.

   I would love to see Ambrose bring this work up to date, and provide his insight as an historian into the last 35 years at the academy. The current edition has been updated by the publisher to include an afterword by General Goodpastor. Unfortunately, I found the General's comments to be a rather self-serving view of the changes that have transpired since the mid-sixties, and in particular his comments regarding the 1970's struck me as being weak, distorted, and inaccurate. As a superintendant of West Point, the General obviously has close ties to many of the recent changes and can hardly be considered as an objective oberserver. The afterword really detracts from the value of Ambrose's work. Nevertheless, I would highly recommend this work to anyone interested in the early history of our republic.

No comments about Terraces and Balconies (Evergreen).

No comments about Guide to the Gardens of Georgia.